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Puppy Obedience Training

Dog Training Elite Midlands SC

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An adorable puppy being held by their owner - get professional puppy obedience training in Columbia, SC with Dog Training Elite today.

Dog Training Elite

Puppy Obedience Training in Columbia, SC

When it’s time to bring your new puppy home, one of the best things you can do for their well-being and your sanity is to start obedience training as soon as possible. Puppies are eager to learn and starting training early can prevent unwanted behaviors like chewing, whining, nipping, and accidents.

At Dog Training Elite, we offer professional puppy obedience training in Columbia, SC. Our team has the resources and knowledge you need to feel confident in controlling your new companion and setting your puppy up for lifelong success.

Learn more about our specialized approach to obedience training and book a free consultation with our team to eliminate those unwanted behaviors!

See Training Packages
A little puppy sitting in grass, contact Dog Training Elite Midlands SC today.

Puppy Essentials Webinar

Free 70-Minute video

$45 Value

See Packages

Our trusted puppy class is now available "on-demand" from the comfort of your home! This webinar video is designed for owners of puppies age 8-16 weeks old, and will be accessible to you for free after completing the form below or with the purchase of one of our puppy packages!

Access Webinar

Our webinar includes education on the following topics:
  • Introducing a new puppy to your home
  • Health & well-being
  • Veterinary care & vaccines
  • Nurturing a good temperament
  • Scruffing & calming signals (e.g. dog yoga)
  • Basic Treat Obedience Including: Come, sit, loose-leash walking, and down
  • Puppy Corrections (Stop biting, digging, jumping, etc.)
  • Crate Training / Housebreaking
  • Socialization Tips
  • Environmental Hazards
  • Puppy Enrichment
  • Caring for Your Puppy

Understanding Puppy Obedience Training

Dog Training Elite

Many behaviors that puppies exhibit are completely normal during the “puppy stage,” but if left unaddressed, they can develop into more serious concerns as your puppy grows.

Early obedience training is key to preventing these issues from becoming ingrained habits. Below are some common issues puppies often display, along with the underlying causes:

Puppies explore the world with their mouths, and teething puppies chew to soothe sore gums. While this is natural, it can become a problem when they chew on furniture, shoes, or other household items.
Nipping is a way for puppies to play and communicate, but as they grow, this behavior can become painful and unwanted. Puppies often learn bite inhibition from their littermates, but without proper guidance, they may continue to nip or bite when interacting with people.
Puppies often whine to express discomfort, fear, or a desire for attention. While it may seem cute at first, persistent whining can be a sign of anxiety or other underlying issues, and it may lead to attention-seeking behaviors if not addressed properly.
Jumping is a natural behavior for puppies as they seek to get closer to their handlers. Puppies jump to greet people, but as they grow, this behavior can become overwhelming or even dangerous, especially for small children or elderly individuals.
Puppies are still learning bladder and bowel control, so accidents are common. Without consistent training and guidance, house soiling can become a persistent issue.
Puppies are naturally excited about exploring their surroundings and often pull on the leash to get to where they want to go. Without proper leash training, this behavior can lead to difficulties controlling your dog on walks as they get bigger and stronger.
Puppies bark to communicate, get attention, or out of excitement. However, excessive barking can indicate boredom, fear, or territorial behavior. If not addressed, barking can become a nuisance, especially in social settings or shared living environments.
Digging is often a natural instinct for puppies, especially certain breeds. They may dig to bury toys, cool off, or out of boredom. Without proper intervention, this behavior can lead to damaged lawns and gardens, as well as unwanted messes.
Some puppies develop anxiety when left alone for extended periods. Signs of separation anxiety can include destructive behavior, excessive barking or whining, and even accidents inside the house. Without addressing the root of the anxiety, this behavior can escalate into more severe emotional and behavioral problems as the puppy grows.
Puppies have a natural prey drive, causing them to chase after fast-moving objects, such as squirrels, cars, or even children. Without training, this instinctual behavior can become dangerous, putting the puppy and others at risk, especially in busy areas or near roads.
An adorable puppy being trained by the experts at Dog Training Elite - get Columbia puppy obedience training today.

Puppy Training 101

How to Train a Puppy

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The #1 mistake new puppy owners make when learning how to train a puppy is waiting too long to start puppy training. Other common mistakes include:

  • Avoiding Crates: Crate training is not meant to be a form of punishment or isolation for a puppy or dog. Not only can it help with potty training, as dogs instinctively don’t want to soil their own space, but a crate can provide a safe place for a puppy or dog to go when they are feeling overwhelmed in their environment.
  • Not Puppy-Proofing Your Home: Much like baby-proofing, puppy-proofing a home is necessary to prevent the destruction of personal items, as well as to protect a puppy from harmful things like wires or toxic chemicals. Make sure these things are out of reach, or protected with a gate or another kind of barrier.
  • Scolding or Harmful Punishment: Pushing a puppy’s face into a mess or scolding them after an accident is a prime example of when focusing on positive reinforcement is far more effective than punishment. Puppies don’t understand what they’ve done wrong after the fact. Instead, they’ll associate their owner’s anger with the mess, which can lead to anxiety and cause them to hide their accidents in less obvious places around the house.
  • Failing to Socialize: The window of time between eight weeks and 16 weeks in puppy time is critical for learning to socialize with other dogs and humans. This can lead to antisocial, anxious, or even aggressive behavior when the puppy becomes a dog. Puppy classes at Dog Training Elite are a great way to achieve socialization.

Additional Obedience Training Info

Dog Training Elite Midlands SC - Classical Conditioning Dog Training in Columbia, SC
Classical Conditioning Training
Dog Training Elite Midlands SC - Positive Reinforcement Dog Training in Columbia, SC
Positive Reinforcement Training
Dog Training Elite Midlands SC - Off Leash Dog Training in Columbia, SC. Dog Training Elite
Off Leash Training
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Agility Through Basic Obedience Training
An adorable golden doodle puppy with Dog Training Elite Midlands SC.

Puppy Training with Dog Training Elite

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Dog Training Elite can help puppy owners learn how to train a puppy and avoid common mistakes, empowering owners to train at home with all the right tools. This is accomplished with our comprehensive in-home puppy training. For the first 4-6 weeks, trainers use “treat training” before moving on to more advanced puppy training. Treat training helps with the following behaviors:

  • Come, sit, loose-leash walking, and down
  • Puppy Corrections (Stop biting, digging, jumping, etc.)
  • Crate Training/ House Breaking

Trainers will also help owners learn about the following:

  • Socialization Tips
  • Environmental Hazards
  • Puppy Enrichment
  • Caring for Your Puppy
  • And more!
A dog being trained with {Fran_brand_name} - puppy obedience training in Columbia, SC.

Start Puppy Obedience Training Today


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After initial training at home, obedience classes are also a great option for exposing a young puppy to other dogs, people, new sounds, and sights. Combining obedience classes with training at home will ensure a well-behaved puppy that learns quickly.

The Dog Training Elite training method focuses on encouraging proper behaviors with positive reinforcement. Punishment is never used as a form of training as it can lead to aggression and fear in dogs.

Positive reinforcement teaches a puppy that performing obedient behaviors wins love and affection from their owner. Our professional puppy trainers include owners in the training process so that puppies learn who is in charge. By working alongside owners, trainers will help owners and puppies build a strong, healthy relationship founded on loyalty and trust.

Contact us today to start your puppy training journey!

Get Your Free Assessment

You and your canine companion really can have it all. See how easy it can be to become a member of the elite pup society by requesting a free consultation today!

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See An Elite Dog in Action

Hear From Our Customers

Learn Why Dog owners choose Dog Training Elite

  • Mike Alexander
    Dec. 16, 2024
    Crystal is amazing! She is so patient and knowledgeable when it comes to training our Harley and showing us exactly what to do in between sessions. We are so glad we found her and can’t wait to see our “final product”. The difference we already see after only two sessions is UNBELIEVABLE! We are very impressed!!
  • Robert Johnson
    Dec. 23, 2024
    Very good for smokey&Elizabeth
  • Brian Pioreck
    Jan. 28, 2025
    Professional, polite, straight forward, and honestly. Crystal explained the whole process as well as expectation that would be set. She provided a skills demonstration in a practice environment and made it clear that success relied on my investment.
  • Tim Dorton
    Jan. 28, 2025
    She was very thorough, polite and dog friendly.
  • Betty Pearson
    Jan. 14, 2025
    Take his time and shows a LOT of patience with my CoCo and me. Highly recommend!
  • Manda Fontenot
    Jan. 20, 2025
    We have been so pleased with Dog Training Elite Midlands. Not only are Justin and Crystal fantastic trainers, they are fantastic people who genuinely care about you and your dog. Signing with Dog Training Elite Midlands is signing with a solutions oriented team to help grow you and your dog. Our puppy loves them and loves training! She has learned so much, and we get so many compliments now when we are out on her behavior and demeanor. Justin and Crystal meet your pet where they are and exceed all expectations from there. We can't recommend them enough!
  • GB Olsen
    Dec. 17, 2024
    My corgi and I are learning so much from Crystal and makes it clear to me the value of being consistent.
  • Jacob Stone
    Jan. 8, 2025
    Our initial consult went great and we are so excited to begin training our dog!
  • Haleigh Pool
    Jan. 6, 2025
    Justin and Crystal were amazing! So glad we decided to train our dogs with them. We’re so happy with the results. We can now go on off leash walks confidently and their excessive barking has stopped.
  • Dustin Langenhuizen
    Dec. 20, 2024
    Crystal is amazing to work with. Very knowledgeable and patient. Simba is picking everything up quickly.
  • Mandy Fennell
    Dec. 23, 2024
    Justin and Crystal are the absolute best in the business. They are so patient with both owner and dog. They do a great job communicating and demonstrating the current plan and client homework. In 4 short weeks, my dog is already a different dog. Her confidence has increased tremendously and bad behavior is almost gone. We can’t thank them enough.
  • William Bossong
    Dec. 14, 2023
    Justin is an incredible dog trainer. He really cares about your dog's progress and wellbeing with a good balance of assigning and holding the owner accountable as well. Would highly recommend Justin and his Company! When our golden retriever was back in town recently, Justin made himself available to come back and visit him to check in on his progress. His service and caring is second to none. We would continue to recommend Justin and DTE for all of your dog training needs!
  • Lesley Coggiola
    Dec. 18, 2024
    Crystal did an excellent job of training my goldendoodle puppy (and the owner) to be an obedient dog while keeping her a happy loving puppy. The program is professional and well run. I would recommend them to anyone.
  • Brooke Nardi
    Dec. 4, 2024
    It was so much fun getting to work with this team and they did a phenomenal job working with my doggo. Hands down the easiest money I’ve ever spent and was worth every penny. I’ve looked for trainers that would really get the job done and I’ve come up short for the past two years. Elite Midlands is the best I’ve seen yet. The entire team was super friendly, knowledgeable, and knows how to handle any type of dog out there. I foolishly thought that only certain dogs had capacity to do what they train dogs to do. However, I quickly learned that with the technique elite midlands uses, no matter your pet’s behavior, past, or struggles they can learn and love what they do with this team. Thank you guys so much for the experience! Shylah and I will be forever grateful!
  • Brooke D
    Dec. 3, 2024
    It was so much fun getting to work with this team and they did a phenomenal job working with my doggo. Hands down the easiest money I’ve ever spent and was worth every penny. I’ve looked for trainers that would really get the job done and I’ve come up short for the past two years. Elite Midlands is the best I’ve seen yet. The entire team was super friendly, knowledgeable, and knows how to handle any type of dog out there. I foolishly thought that only certain dogs had capacity to do what they train dogs to do. However, I quickly learned that with the technique elite midlands uses, no matter your pet’s behavior, past, or struggles they can learn and love what they do with this team. Thank you guys so much for the experience! Shylah and I will be forever grateful!
  • Erica Reyna
    Oct. 21, 2024
    We have had the best experience with Dog Training Elite Midlands! Everyone is so professional and friendly. Justin has been our main trainer and he is patient, knowledgeable and very caring! If you are looking for a dog trainer, I cannot recommend them highly enough!
  • BrennanOMalley
    Oct. 16, 2024
    Justin and Crystal did a wonderful job training my dad’s dog! I am leaving this review for him because he couldn’t figure out how to but, said he had a great time! We can definitely tell there is a lot more peace in the home already and a lot less barking in the background on our phone calls!
  • Nick Smith
    Oct. 16, 2024
    Justin was an absolutely amazing dog trainer. He trained my dog Kaden. I had so many issues with Kaden. He peed in the house, lunged at other dogs, didn’t come when called, pulled on the leash, jumped all over guest in my house, and many more issues. Justin solved every single issue I had with Kaden. His training method was fair to my dog. You can tell when someone truly cares about your dog and Justin 100% did. I highly recommend him.
  • Timothy Kinney
    Sep. 18, 2024
    We can’t say enough good things about Justin! From the moment we met, we knew our dogs were in great hands. Not only does he have a wealth of knowledge about dog behavior, but he also has a unique ability to connect with dogs on a personal level. My dogs, who used to be anxious and reactive around other dogs, and people, has completely transformed under Justin’s guidance. Each session was tailored to our specific needs, and I really appreciated the positive reinforcement techniques used, which made the training both effective and enjoyable for my dog. What impressed me most was the patience and encouragement Justin showed both to our dogs and us as pet owners. Thanks to Justin, our dogs are more confident, better behaved, and we all enjoy our time together so much more. We even are able to have one of our dogs working through the process of becoming a therapy dog. If you’re looking for a professional, compassionate, and skilled dog trainer, I highly recommend Dog Training Elite Midlands SC—you won’t be disappointed!
  • Dana Lindsey
    Sep. 18, 2024
    We were referred to Justin and his team by a close friend for our Poppy, who 100% lives up to her name. She is smart but we needed training on how to outsmart her and get her to listen. Justin and Crystal have been so patient and supportive, their explanations thorough, instructions clear, and they make training FUN. Poppy adores both of them, and has learned so much. I would recommend this company to anyone looking to train and be trained. They know their stuff, and are just a delight to work with. 10/10 recommend.
  • Mike Alexander
    Dec. 16, 2024
    Crystal is amazing! She is so patient and knowledgeable when it comes to training our Harley and showing us exactly what to do in between sessions. We are so glad we found her and can’t wait to see our “final product”. The difference we already see after only two sessions is UNBELIEVABLE! We are very impressed!!
  • Robert Johnson
    Dec. 23, 2024
    Very good for smokey&Elizabeth
  • Brian Pioreck
    Jan. 28, 2025
    Professional, polite, straight forward, and honestly. Crystal explained the whole process as well as expectation that would be set. She provided a skills demonstration in a practice environment and made it clear that success relied on my investment.
  • Tim Dorton
    Jan. 28, 2025
    She was very thorough, polite and dog friendly.
  • Betty Pearson
    Jan. 14, 2025
    Take his time and shows a LOT of patience with my CoCo and me. Highly recommend!
  • Manda Fontenot
    Jan. 20, 2025
    We have been so pleased with Dog Training Elite Midlands. Not only are Justin and Crystal fantastic trainers, they are fantastic people who genuinely care about you and your dog. Signing with Dog Training Elite Midlands is signing with a solutions oriented team to help grow you and your dog. Our puppy loves them and loves training! She has learned so much, and we get so many compliments now when we are out on her behavior and demeanor. Justin and Crystal meet your pet where they are and exceed all expectations from there. We can't recommend them enough!
  • GB Olsen
    Dec. 17, 2024
    My corgi and I are learning so much from Crystal and makes it clear to me the value of being consistent.
  • Jacob Stone
    Jan. 8, 2025
    Our initial consult went great and we are so excited to begin training our dog!
  • Haleigh Pool
    Jan. 6, 2025
    Justin and Crystal were amazing! So glad we decided to train our dogs with them. We’re so happy with the results. We can now go on off leash walks confidently and their excessive barking has stopped.
  • Dustin Langenhuizen
    Dec. 20, 2024
    Crystal is amazing to work with. Very knowledgeable and patient. Simba is picking everything up quickly.
  • Mandy Fennell
    Dec. 23, 2024
    Justin and Crystal are the absolute best in the business. They are so patient with both owner and dog. They do a great job communicating and demonstrating the current plan and client homework. In 4 short weeks, my dog is already a different dog. Her confidence has increased tremendously and bad behavior is almost gone. We can’t thank them enough.
  • William Bossong
    Dec. 14, 2023
    Justin is an incredible dog trainer. He really cares about your dog's progress and wellbeing with a good balance of assigning and holding the owner accountable as well. Would highly recommend Justin and his Company! When our golden retriever was back in town recently, Justin made himself available to come back and visit him to check in on his progress. His service and caring is second to none. We would continue to recommend Justin and DTE for all of your dog training needs!
  • Lesley Coggiola
    Dec. 18, 2024
    Crystal did an excellent job of training my goldendoodle puppy (and the owner) to be an obedient dog while keeping her a happy loving puppy. The program is professional and well run. I would recommend them to anyone.
  • Brooke Nardi
    Dec. 4, 2024
    It was so much fun getting to work with this team and they did a phenomenal job working with my doggo. Hands down the easiest money I’ve ever spent and was worth every penny. I’ve looked for trainers that would really get the job done and I’ve come up short for the past two years. Elite Midlands is the best I’ve seen yet. The entire team was super friendly, knowledgeable, and knows how to handle any type of dog out there. I foolishly thought that only certain dogs had capacity to do what they train dogs to do. However, I quickly learned that with the technique elite midlands uses, no matter your pet’s behavior, past, or struggles they can learn and love what they do with this team. Thank you guys so much for the experience! Shylah and I will be forever grateful!
  • Brooke D
    Dec. 3, 2024
    It was so much fun getting to work with this team and they did a phenomenal job working with my doggo. Hands down the easiest money I’ve ever spent and was worth every penny. I’ve looked for trainers that would really get the job done and I’ve come up short for the past two years. Elite Midlands is the best I’ve seen yet. The entire team was super friendly, knowledgeable, and knows how to handle any type of dog out there. I foolishly thought that only certain dogs had capacity to do what they train dogs to do. However, I quickly learned that with the technique elite midlands uses, no matter your pet’s behavior, past, or struggles they can learn and love what they do with this team. Thank you guys so much for the experience! Shylah and I will be forever grateful!
  • Erica Reyna
    Oct. 21, 2024
    We have had the best experience with Dog Training Elite Midlands! Everyone is so professional and friendly. Justin has been our main trainer and he is patient, knowledgeable and very caring! If you are looking for a dog trainer, I cannot recommend them highly enough!
  • BrennanOMalley
    Oct. 16, 2024
    Justin and Crystal did a wonderful job training my dad’s dog! I am leaving this review for him because he couldn’t figure out how to but, said he had a great time! We can definitely tell there is a lot more peace in the home already and a lot less barking in the background on our phone calls!
  • Nick Smith
    Oct. 16, 2024
    Justin was an absolutely amazing dog trainer. He trained my dog Kaden. I had so many issues with Kaden. He peed in the house, lunged at other dogs, didn’t come when called, pulled on the leash, jumped all over guest in my house, and many more issues. Justin solved every single issue I had with Kaden. His training method was fair to my dog. You can tell when someone truly cares about your dog and Justin 100% did. I highly recommend him.
  • Timothy Kinney
    Sep. 18, 2024
    We can’t say enough good things about Justin! From the moment we met, we knew our dogs were in great hands. Not only does he have a wealth of knowledge about dog behavior, but he also has a unique ability to connect with dogs on a personal level. My dogs, who used to be anxious and reactive around other dogs, and people, has completely transformed under Justin’s guidance. Each session was tailored to our specific needs, and I really appreciated the positive reinforcement techniques used, which made the training both effective and enjoyable for my dog. What impressed me most was the patience and encouragement Justin showed both to our dogs and us as pet owners. Thanks to Justin, our dogs are more confident, better behaved, and we all enjoy our time together so much more. We even are able to have one of our dogs working through the process of becoming a therapy dog. If you’re looking for a professional, compassionate, and skilled dog trainer, I highly recommend Dog Training Elite Midlands SC—you won’t be disappointed!
  • Dana Lindsey
    Sep. 18, 2024
    We were referred to Justin and his team by a close friend for our Poppy, who 100% lives up to her name. She is smart but we needed training on how to outsmart her and get her to listen. Justin and Crystal have been so patient and supportive, their explanations thorough, instructions clear, and they make training FUN. Poppy adores both of them, and has learned so much. I would recommend this company to anyone looking to train and be trained. They know their stuff, and are just a delight to work with. 10/10 recommend.